American swimmer Michael Phelps became the first person to win eight gold medals at one Olympic Games.
Michael Phelps won the 100-meter butterfly swim in a record 50:58 at the Beijing Olympic finals.
In a letter and on television, President Jimmy Carter announced that the Olympics should not take place in Moscow, Russia.
King George VI officially opened the 11th modern-day Olympic Games at the Wembley Arena in London, UK.
The first modern international Olympic Games began in Athens, Greece.